Women's Golf To Compete in 2010 SEC Championship
Thursday, April 15, 2010 | Women's Golf
The University of Florida women's golf team will enter postseason play as they travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala. for the 2010 Southeastern Conference Championship. The tournament, hosted by Alabama, will be held at the NorthRiver Yacht Club on April 16-18. The par-71, 6,057-yard course will play host to the event for the first time.
The Gators are coming off a third place finish at the Gator Women's Golf Invitational last weekend. Freshman Mia Piccio (Bacolod City, Philippines) had a weekend full of career bests as she finished in a tie for third.
First-year head coach Jan Dowling is looking to lead her team to Florida's ninth SEC title in program history, the first since 2008. Dowling will field a lineup consisting of two freshmen, two sophomores and one junior. The Gators will be led by Piccio, junior Jessica Yadloczky (Casselberry, Fla.) and sophomore Evan Jensen (Bellaire, Fla.) will be the only Gators in Tuscaloosa with SEC Championship experience. Marika and Isabelle Lendl (Bradenton, Fla.) will round out the lineup.
The 2009-10 season has been a strong one for women's golf in the Southeastern Conference. Seven of the 12 teams in the conference appear in the top-25 of Golfweek's latest rankings. The No. 11 Florida Gators join No. 3 Auburn, No. 7 Alabama, No. 14 Tennessee, No. 16 Georgia, No. 19 LSU and No. 24 Vanderbilt in the top-25. The SEC also boasts the top-ranked individual in the country in Auburn's Cydney Clanton.
The University of Florida has claimed eight SEC team tites in its program's history, with the most recent win coming in 2008. From 1981 to 1987, Florida women's golfers claimed five of seven SEC titles. The Gators finished in second both years that they did not win the title. Six
Gators have claimed the individual crown, but Florida has not boasted an SEC individual champion since 2003.
First round action begins on Friday and will continue with 18 holes on both Saturday and Sunday. Live scoring will be available at www.golfstat.com or www.GatorZone.com.
Tournament Field (Golfweek/Sagarin Rating)
Alabama (7)
Arkansas (32)
Auburn (3)
Florida (11)
Georgia (16)
Kentucky (81)
LSU (19)
Mississippi State (123)
Ole Miss (47)
South Carolina (26)
Tennessee (14)
Vanderbilt (24)
Florida Lineup
1. Mia Piccio
2. Evan Jensen
3. Jessica Yadloczky
4. Isabelle Lendl
5. Marika Lendl
-UF-
